Publication:Navy Annual 2005/Navy Cadets of the Pilbara
BY COMMANDER STU WHEELER, RAN
Located in the rugged North-West Pilbara region of Western Australia, Navy Cadet training ships (TS) Pilbara and Dampier are two Cadet Units with a difference.
Every year each Cadet unit is provided an annual inspection and the opportunity to be assessed towards the Cadet Efficiency shield by the senior Officer Cadets - Western Australia, CMDR Peter Pemberton, ANC and a senior royal Australian Navy officer.
'Being the largest state in Australia and with many cadet units scattered from Esperance to Broome, there is often a lot of distance to cover to visit them all', said Peter Pemberton, who travels annually to each unit from his Headquarters in Fremantle. 'Although Navy Cadets units are sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy they do receive support and in some cases, direct assistance from the local community. In my job it's interesting to see that the units vary considerably both in character and numbers, as do the many staff and the volunteers who freely give their time to the cadets.'
During this year's annual inspection of TS Pilbara, the unit's Commanding Officer, sublieutenant Sarah O'Connor, ANC told the reviewing Officer, CMDR Stu Wheeler, RAN, "Our Cadet unit in Port Hedland has been an important part of the town for many years and, as with the town, its numbers have seen many changes. This is often a result of the changing workforce up here last month for example; a large company involved in the iron ore operations lost a contract in favour of the more popular fly-in, fly-out companies. Sadly, this forced many families to leave Port Hedland, taking almost half our cadets with them", Sarah explained. "Almost everyone in Port Hedland has some connection with mining. Being a cadet in the Pilbara brings people together with a common bond, however I know the cadets leaving us will take some lifetime friendships, memories and experiences with them" continued Sarah.
Situated only metres from the high water mark and sharing a barren, rocky slope with the Port Hedland Yacht Club, TS Pilbara overlooks the tidal 'spoil bank' that extends seaward and forms the approach to Port Hedland harbour. Like all other buildings in Port Hedland, TS Pilbara is encrusted with a red patina of iron ore dust and fortified with window bars and grates to prevent cyclone damage. Just out of view from the unit, and forming an encroaching landscape of the town, lie huge stockpiles of iron ore, salt, chromate and nickel concentrate, awaiting shipment in bulk carriers.
The annual inspection was scheduled for July and, it being a pleasant 30 degrees, gave the cadets an opportunity to conduct their parade and evolutions in cooler conditions than they are used to. 'The 'dry' is excellent for cadets as the 'wet' season is very hot and there are sometimes cyclones', said leading Cadet Lauren Drury. 'We try to go sailing whenever we can, but with five metre tides our basin is often dry all the way to the shipping channel', as she pointed to the far edge of the spoil bank over half a kilometre away. With the shimmering line of the Indian Ocean falling just short of the horizon during their annual inspection, the cadets' spirits remained keen as they enthusiastically showcased their knowledge of rigging a sailing dinghy and gave demonstrations on boating safety. They had the equipment, the knowledge and the skills, just no water. A truly 'Just Add Water' activity!
Before a small group of proud parents and friends, the cadets displayed a fine parade of crisp white uniforms and marched in review order for the TS Pilbara salute. Moments later, from the parade dais, a 200,000 ton bulk ore carrier was seen gliding out of the channel and was a poignant reminder of what drew and kept people here. When asked on her thoughts of being a cadet, AB Catherine McCubbin said, 'unlike 'down south' there isn't that much to do in Port Hedland. Cadets are great because we learn about leadership, sailing and being part of a team, and we also make a lot of friends at the same time.'
TS Dampier was the next unit to be inspected and, like its neighboring unit TS Pilbara almost three-hundred kilometres to the north, Dampier had an equally distinctive character and offered some unique challenges for the cadets of this unusual place. Once a company-owned town developed by Hammersley iron in the 1960s for the sea export of iron ore, Dampier has seen a decline in population as the nearby city of Karratha continues to grow as the regional centre.
Lieutenant John Lally, ANC was the unit's Commanding Officer for several years and a local identity of Dampier. John, a school teacher, is also the Head of the town's Camp School. During a tour of the Headquarters he said, "This unit has a very positive relationship with the big companies in Dampier, and this provides some real benefits for the cadets. With our cadets and staff coming from every corner of a fairly small community, everyone is willing to pitch-in to help the Navy cadets. This includes assistance from the mining companies, the port and rail operators and our state and local governments. I think anyone who lives here and has children knows the value of gaining some qualifications, particularly those sought after by the local industries. Our Australian Yachting Federation power-boat tickets, for example, are very popular with the cadets and often help them gain employment in the growing charter fishing and tourist industry."
During John's welcome address, he explained to the visitors the significance of the unit's six-metre navy whaler that took pride of place on the parade ground. "This vessel really forms the 'hub of the wheel' to all our activities. Whether the cadets are learning seamanship, sailing, navigation, boats husbandry or even planning some survey work on the Dampier Archipelago, the cadets always try to shape their projects around our whaler boat as a practical training aid. Using their whaler boat as the basis for the training continuum is really only limited by our imagination, and it has proved to be a dynamic asset for the cadets and the staff."
Providing some relief from the extreme summer heat, the annual inspection was held in the cooler month of August. Again, with temperatures around 30 degrees, this allowed the cadets to conduct their evolutions outside. These consisted of a stretcher making competition, a jackstay and dinghy sailing, power-boating and sea kayaking demonstrations on Hampton Harbour. With the ceremony complete, a busy afternoon of evolutions followed. supervising the rigging of the safety equipment for the jackstay, the Executive Officer (and local outdoor-ed teacher), Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Robertson, ANC said, "in a small town like Dampier, which doesn't always offer the things for kids to do in the 'big smoke', it's really pleasing to see the many teenagers come through the unit. Many join cadets without any knowledge of seamanship, safety or leadership, or the confidence to try something different. The time they spend as a cadet and the training they do undoubtedly enriches their lives and this gives them a good footing as young adults."
To the visitor, the isolation, the harsh climate and the small, often transient population of Dampier might appear to lack some of the opportunities of bigger cities. However, TS Dampier, with its fiercely proud cadets and the supportive community spirit, amply compensates for any shortages from living in the land of diesel and dust.
